Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-29
From the Gratiot Journal.
NO "sLURn INTENDED.
Rev. ThcO Nelson Replies TO Certain STRIFE.
ures Made In the journal About
Aima's New College

you comment rather severely upon "the
announcement to the public by the fac
ulty of Alma College" If, as you be.
lieye, said announcement contained a
'slm' upon the excellent schools of
Gratiot county, especially those of Al
ma, st. Louis and Ithaca, your stric-
lures are perfectly just. But you will
permit me 20 call your attention 10 the
fact that, what ever the slur, your ed
itorial lays the oifense at the door of
innocent parties. The persons who
compose the faculty of Alma College
had nothing to do with said announce
ment, as you may easily see by refer
ence to the pamphlet which contains if.
The announcement is signed sin be-
half Of the executive committee" by
Rev. \. L. Bruske. The executive
committee represent the board of trust
ees, and not the faculty. 1t is a mat
ter OF some consequence that you cor
rect this mistake. The trustees reside
in different and, some Of them, in re-
mote parts of the state; but the faculty
will reside at Alma, and ii would be un-
fair to prejudice them in the community
of which they are TO form Il part. More
over, the faculty beng the teaching
corps embody the elements which
will determine the character and stand
ing Of the college itself-its real in
fluence, efficiency and worth. In a
degree which makes buildings, APP
paratus and other appointments COM
paratiyely insignificant, the faculty
are the school. \ superior faculty, or
teaching corps. are the pledge and
proof of superior school, though they
were to give instruction in tents or in
the open air. Age and tradition may
serve Il school of higher learning in
the way Of reputation and prestige
but the Jnen and women who do its
teaching give it the reality OF useful
ness and power. For some years
past | have been in position to know
the leading educators of our country.
and especially those of the west. was
consulted in regard to appointment Of.
or asked to nominate, every member Of
the faculty Of Alma College. / know
them to be an exceptionally able and
distinguished body OF teachtrs-all of
them, indeed already eminent in then
several departments Of learning and
scholarship. Many young people in
Gratiot Comfy and other sections OF
Northern Michigan. Will doubtless con-
tinue to 90 a long distance to obtain
educational advantages in no wise
and in some respects very
likely inferior to those offered them at
Alma.
But took my pen to say that the an
noUncement of which You complain.
though put forth by the trustees, and !
not the faculty. was not meant to con-
tain, | am sure, any slur upon the
schools of Gratiot County. 1t is PLAIN |
y for the interest OF Alma College TO
establish and retain the most friendly |
relations with the public schools in its
vicinity and elsewhere. The idea in |
The mind Of the author Of the AN
louncement" was simply this: Alma
College is the only school Of higher /
earning, that is. the only college, in /
what is called Northern Michigan. and |
has for It's field a comparative new
lection of the state in which even
ligh schools are not numerous. Like
)ther colleges Of its character. it has
established Il preparatory department |
or the convenience OF the youth
brought up in rural districts, more or
ess remote from the high school of any
grade. 1t is a fact. also, that only
ew high schools in the state offer the
student facilities for making full pre-
1arations for college. but young per-
sons who have the advantages of first
lass high schools, such as those of
ithaca, st. Louis and Alma, will ccr-
ainly be encouraged to make their
- VI 90 ''e-N4io iNl a. NNiltSt NJAlSt III /
ZONE.
In closing may be INDUCED in re-
mark not specially pertinent to any
hing the Journal has said, bat apple
ible to tie general drift OF opinion ex-
PRESSED by Gratiot county corresponds
'nts and papers? To one who knows
What Alma College is. ana what it cost.
t seems Ike bitter sarcasm that it
hould be so much suspected and so
little commended in the region upon
which. for all time, il must confer the
,reatest benefits. The college was Sc
uIcd 10y hard struggle against the
'ounter-eXertions Of Flint. lonia and
'ther large towns in the state. The
'erson who. from old-rime attachment.
urned the scales against all other
in Gratiot county. is not
likely to give direct or indirect coun-
pN1npp fo upv SLIM r,,,,, -. Al.